Conversion of cigarette vending machines to hold outsized cigarette packages

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed an improvement in methods for modifying a cigarette vending machine magazine column for holding cigarette packages of a certain size to hold cigarette packages of longer length than for which the machine was designed which involve elongating the magazine bottom wall opening through which the packages pass for dispensing of same from the machine, and removably fixing a stopping member at one side wall of the magazine column to prevent the column back wall from being moved forwardly of the rearmost extent of the elongated opening, the improvement residing in the manner in which the bottom wall is removed to elongate the same.

United States Patent Goldenstein CONVERSION OF CIGARETTE VENDING MACHINES TO HOLD OUTSIZED CIGARETTE PACKAGES John E. Goldenstein, Gretna, Nebr.

Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, NY.

Filed: June 21, 1974 Appl. No.: 481,743

Inventor:

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Millies et al. 221/242 Primary Examiner-C. W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-James R. Duzan Attorney, Agent, or FirmWatson Leavenworth Kelton & Taggart [57] .ABSTRACT There is disclosed an improvement in methods for modifying a cigarette vending machine magazine column for holding cigarette packages of a certain size to hold cigarette packages of longer length than for which the machine was designed which involve elongating the magazine bottom wall opening through which the packages pass for dispensing of same from the machine, and removably fixing a stopping member at one side wall of the magazine column to prevent the column back wall from being moved forwardly of the rearmost extent of the elongated opening, the improvement residing in the manner in which the bottom wall is removed to elongate the same.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED M1 1975 saw 3 or g PATENTEUMR 1 8 m5 3.871 ,059

sumunrd CONVERSION OF CIGARETTE VENDING MACHINES TO HOLD OUTSIZED CIGARETTE PACKAGES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in methods for converting or modifying a cigarette vending machine designed to hold cigarette packages of a certain size to allow for use with packages of larger cigarettes than for which the machine was designed.

Vending machines used for retail selling of various types of articles are long known in the art including widespread use of the same in connection with the sale of cigarettes. In one such machine type, the magazine thereof is designed to hold up to 85 mm length cigarette packages. However, there now exists a larger segment of smokers who have preference for a longer length cigarette, namely, a 100 mm long cigarette. The cigarette vending machine type which is designed for use in vending up to 85 mm length cigarettes cannot be used for vending of 100 mm long cigarette packages unless there be effected a modification thereto. This is so because the magazine column in which the cigarette packages are arranged in vertical stacked superposition is provided with a bottom wall opening of a predetermined length corresponding to allow for passage there- ;through of only up to 85 mm long cigarette size packages. The replacement of the magazine column structure in whole or in part to adapt the machine for use in vending the larger size cigarette packages would be economically prohibitive.

Certain procedures are known for modifying the magazine columns of these vending machines to permit their use with the larger length cigarette packages. In the class or type of cigarette vending machine to which this invention pertains, the magazine column in which the cigarette packages are received in vertical stacked superposition is provided with a bottom wall opening of a length sufficient to pass a 85 mm length cigarette package but no one of greater length. The magazine column also has a pair of spaced vertical side walls, a vertical front wall extending between the side walls with the bottom opening extending rearwardly from the front wall, and the rearmost extent of the bottom wall opening being defined by an edge on the bottom wall disposed transversely of the side walls. Additionally, there is provided a normally forwardly biased vertical rear wall that extends between the side walls and is slid- .able on the bottom wall under the force of a biasing means. Further the magazine column has as part of the rear wall a forwardly directed extension piece of predetermined length which engages in stopped abutment with structure at the column front wall to prevent biased travel of the rear wall forwardly of the bottom wall edge so that under no circumstances can the rear wall be moved forwardly so far as to obstruct the bottom wall opening or place undue pressure on packages of cigarettes disposed in the column. It also is common to provide the magazine column in a form which permits the reception therein of two vertical rows of cigarette packages. In such instance, the frontmost vertical row is separated from the second or rear vertical row by means of a shift column retainer lip which is a normally transversely disposed element connected to the column rear wall extension piece at the front tip end of the said extension piece. When the first or front vertical row of cigarette packages has been dispensed, the normally forwardly biased rear wall moves the second row forwardly bringing the shift column retainer lip into stopped abutment with the front wall to insure that the rear wall does not extend forwardly of the bottom wall edge, i.e., forwardly of the rearmost extent of the bottom wall opening.

It is known that the cigarette vending machine column designed to handle packages ofa first length, e.g., mm cigarette packages, can be modified to permit its use with cigarette packages of a second greater predetermined length, for example, mm cigarette packages in a manner which involves removing a section of the bottom wall rearwardly from the said edge thereof to elongate the bottom wall opening to a length substantially equal to the length of the larger cigarette packages. Additionally, a stopping member is removedly fixed on one side wall of the magazine column being spaced inwardly a predetermined distance from the front wall. The stopping member is provided to prevent biased travel of the rear wall forward of the rearmost extent of the elongated bottom wall opening. Most conveniently the stopping member is provided by forming an opening in said one side wall and rotating the shift column retainer lip normally carried on a forward extension of the rear wall to insert a tab projection on the lip into said opening. In this fashion the rear wall is thus prevented from moving forwardly beyond the rearmost extent of the elongated opening.

While such methods as described above have proved adequate to the intended purpose, they are not fully satisfactory in respect of the manner of removing the bottom wall section which results in elongating the opening. In particular the length of time and effort involved in effecting bottom wall cutting are unnecessarily burdensome, especially when modification is effected in the field. Additionally, if the section removal is not effected cleanly along the intended removal course, rough edges of the hardened steel bottom wall around the opening can damage the cigarette packages during dispensing or cause a hang up of a package as may prohibit dispensing altogether. Further, it is possible where employing a punching operation to cause bending of the bottom wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improvement in the procedure involved in removing a section of the bottom wall of the magazine column to effect such removal in a clean, uniform and precise manner, leaving no ragged or sharp metal residue in the bottom wall around the removal course.

In accordance with the invention, a punch is positioned at one side of the bottom wall, and a complementally shaped die element through which the punch passes in shearing travel is positioned at the other side of the wall, the die element being placed in full bearing contact with the bottom wall at least at positions of the wall lying adjacent the intended removal course. The punch is then stroked or drawn through the bottom wall to progressively shear the section from the wall. Shearing is effected by making first penetration of the bottom wall at a location centrally of the removal course and thereafter substantially uniformly progressively penetrating the wall laterally away from said location at opposite sides thereof. If the bottom wall contains grooved recesses, the die element is conformably received in said recesses to insure that full bearing contact is maintained. By providing full bearing contact with the die element, bending of the wall structure is prevented and an extremely clean cutting of the section away from the wall is achieved.

In removing the section from the bottom wall, the same desirably is removed to a uniform depth rearwardly of the transverse edge of the opening of the bottom wall section producing a removed section of substantially rectangular shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cigarette vending machine magazine showing a number of the columns or compartments therein as viewed from above and looking towards the front of the magazine, the two left most columns having been modified in known manner to take larger packages while the remaining or right column is depicted in an unmodified form.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cigarette magazine depicted in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front and above.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side elevational views partly in section of the steps involved in removing a section of the magazine bottom wall in a magazine column in accordance with the present invention, the magazine being shown laid on its side with the bottom wall in vertical disposition, an expedient employed during the conversion operation.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view depicting the manner in which the bottom wall of the magazine column is punched to remove a section therefrom with a punch device of the type described in the about to be filed application of Roy J. Devilbiss entitled Punch Mechanism for Modifying Cigarette Vending Machine Magazines," the said mechanism also being shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view depicting the magazine bottom wall after several columns therein have been modified.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view depicting the manner in which shearing removal of the wall-section is effected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is depicted a fragmentary portion of a cigarette vending machine magazine 10 which is provided with a plurality of cigarette package receiving compartments or columns l2, l4 and 16 each designed to receive for dispensing one or more vertical rows of superposed packages of cigarettes, such packages not being shown as the depiction of the same is not necessary for properly understanding the invention. The actual dispensing mechanism employed for delivering package from one ofthe compartments or columns 12-16 following the passage of the package through the opening in the column bottom wall is well understood by those skilled in the art and further description ofsuch dispensing mechanism is unnecessary herein. Each vending machine column l2,

l4, I6 is comprised of a pair of spaced vertical walls 18, a front vertical wall 20 extending between the side walls 18, and a bottom wall 22. The magazine columns 12, l4, 16 each are provided also with a vertical rear wall 24 which extends between the side walls 18 and is slidable on the bottom wall, there being provided in known manner biasing means shown generally at 26 which serves normally to urge the rear wall forwardly in the direction of the front wall, such means also including a spring means (not shown). Additionally the rear wall includes a forwardly extending extension piece 30 of predetermined length which is disposed adjacent one of the side walls and has a front tip end which can move into stopped abutment with structure at the said front wall 20 to prevent biased travel of the rear wall 24 forwardly of the rearmost extent of the column opening 32 in the bottom wall 22, the rearmost extent of the opening 32 further being defined by an edge 34 on the bottom wall which extends transversely between the side walls 18. As best seen in FIG. 2, each magazine column 12, 14, 16 also includes at the front tip end of the extension piece in conventional manner a shift column retainer lift 40. The latter element is employed to separate two vertically stacked rows of ciga rette packages when the column is used for storage of at least two rows of such packages. The shift column retainer lip 40 is rotatably connected to the tip end of the extension piece 30 and the lip includes a forwardly extending tab projection 42. When two vertical rows of cigarettes, for example, the packages of mm cigarettes are used in the magazine, the front row is separated from the rear row by the shift column retainer lip 40 and the tab 42 maintains the lip in a position in which it extends transversely of the side walls separating the two rows of packages. When the last package in the frontmost row is dispensed, the biasing means moves the second or rear row forwardly to bring it into register above the opening of the bottom wall, the position of the retainer lip following such movement being shown in respect of the column 16 in FIG. 2.

The column 16 depicted in FIG. 1 is unmodified and would in such type of cigarette vending machine be used for dispensing 85 mm length cigarette packages. To modify a column, for example columns 12 and 14 in known manner to adapt the same for dispensing mm cigarette length packages, a section 44 (FIG. 4) of the bottom wall 22 of the column is removed rearwardly from the edge 34 to elongate the bottom wall opening 32 to a length which is substantially equal to the second predetermined article or 100 mm cigarette package length. Such section 44 preferably is removed along a predetermined removal course 67 (FIG. 6) to a uniform depth rearwardly from the transverse edge 34. Following the rectangular shape of the cigarette packages, the resultant or elongated opening like the original opening is rectangular in shape. For removing the section 44 of material which usually is a hardened steel plate, the improved removal procedure of the present invention is employed, the section being progressively sheared from the wall structure. FIG. 6 depicts the bottom wall structure of the magazine where two columns have been modified to the extent of removing a section from their bottom walls. The adjacent column is shown in FIG. 6 in its original condition, i.e.. for use with cigarette packages of 85 mm long cigarettes.

One convenient manner of effecting the removal of the section is to employ a punch mechanism designated generally at 50 in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. Such punch mechanism is the subject matter of the about to be filed application of Roy J. Devilbiss entitled Punch Mechanism for Modifying Cigarette Vending Machine Magazines. When using such punch mechanism, it is convenient to remove the magazine from the cigarette vending machine in the field with the punch 52 of the punching unit 50 being disposed or located behind the bottom wall 22 of the magazine (FIG. 3), the magazine having been laid on its back wall to present the bottom wall in a vertical disposition. By operating the punch mechanism, the punch 52 is slid in cooperating engagement with a female die 54 on the forward end of the punch mechanism and shears through or punches out a rectangular shaped section 44 of the bottom wall.

Following removal of the section 44 from the bottom wall structure to thus elongate the bottom wall opening 32, it is necessary to further modify the column in known manner to prevent forward biased travel of the compartment rear wall 24 forwardly beyond the rearmost extent of the now elongated bottom opening. One such expedient involves receiving the tab projection 42 on the shift column retainer lip 40 in a hole 56 in side wall 18, the retainer lip being rotated from its transverse disposition to one in which it is parallel to the said one side wall 18 to permit such tab insertion. In this fashion the tab upon being received in the hole prevents the rear wall extension piece and attached rear wall from being biased forwardly of the rearmost extent of the enlarged bottom opening.

FIG. 7 depicts the shearing operation in which punch 52 is employed to shear or cut a section 44 from the bottom wall structure 22. In effecting the shearing, first penetration is effected at a location centrally of the removal course and thereafter substantially uniformly progressively completing the penetration laterally away from said location at opposite sides thereof. T'o effect this progressive laterally widening cutting course, the front end of the punch tapers inwardly to a relatively pointed configuration as at 77 with the manner of movement of the punch through the sheet during cutting being shown in dashed lines. A further aspect of the invention involves receiving the die element in grooves 81 in the bottom wall. For this purpose the die element front end can be provided with projections 79 which are receivable in the grooves 81 to thus provide the necessary full bearing support of the wall portions adjacent the removal course during the shearing step.

What is claimed is:

1. In a method for modifying a cigarette vending machine column designed for holding cigarette packages of a first predetermined length in vertical stacked superposition to adapt said column for holding and dispensing cigarettes packages of a second greater predetermined length, said vending machine column being defined by spaced apart vertical side walls, a front vertical wall extending between said side walls, a bottom wall having an opening extending rearwardly from said front wall through which opening the packages must pass for dispensing of same from said machine, the length of said bottom wall opening being substantially equal to said first predetermined article length. the rearmost extent of said opening being defined by an edge on said bottom wall disposed transversely of said side walls, there being a normally forwardly biased vertical rear wall extending between said side walls and slidable on said bottom wall,

comprising removing a section of the bottom wall along a predetermined removal course rearwardly from said edge to elongate said bottom wall opening to a length substantially equal to said second predetermined package length,

an applying stopping force to said rear wall to prevent biased travel of said rear wall forwardly of the rearmost extent of said elongated bottom wall opening, the improvement wherein said section is removed from said bottom wall by positioning a punch at one side of said bottom wall, and a complemental die element at the other side of said wall in full bearing contact with said bottom wall at least at portions thereof lying adjacent said removal course, and

progressively shearing said wall along said removal course by drawing said punch therethrough to remove said section.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising removing said section of bottom wall to a uniform depth rearwardly from said transverse edge to produce removal from said bottom wall of a substantially rectangular-shaped section.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the shearing is effected by making first penetration of said bottom wall at a location centrally of said removal course and thereafter substantially uniformly progressively penetrating said bottom wall laterally away from said location at opposite sides thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said other side of said wall is provided with grooved recesses and said die element is conformably received in said recesses in full bearing contact therewith.

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1. In a method for modifying a cigarette vending machine column designed for holding cigarette packages of a first predetermined length in vertical stacked superposition to adapt said column for holding and dispensing cigarettes packages of a second greater predetermined length, said vending machine column being defined by spaced apart vertical side walls, a front vertical wall extending between said side walls, a bottom wall having an opening extending rearwardly from said front wall through which opening the packages must pass for dispensing of same from said machine, the length of said bottom wall opening being substantially equal to said first predetermined article length, the rearmost extent of said opening being defined by an edge on said bottom wall disposed transversely of said side walls, there being a normally forwardly biased vertical rear wall extending between said side walls and slidable on said bottom wall, comprising removing a section of the bottom wall along a predetermined removal course rearwardly from said edge to elongate said bottom wall opening to a length substantially equal to said second predetermined package length, an applying stopping force to said rear wall to prevent biased travel of said rear wall forwardly of the rearmost extent of said elongated bottom wall opening, the improvement wherein said section is removed from said bottom wall by positioning a punch at one side of said bottom wall, and a complemental die element at the other side of said wall in full bearing contact with said bottom wall at least at portions thereof lying adjacent said removal course, and progressively shearing said wall along said removal course by drawing said punch therethrough to remove said section.
 2. The method of claim 1 comprising removing said section of bottom wall to a uniform depth rearwardly from said transverse edge to produce removal from said bottom wall of a substantially rectangular-shaped section.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the shearing is effected by making first penetration of said bottom wall at a location centrally of said removal course and thereafter substantially uniformly progressively penetrating said bottom wall laterally away from said location at opposite sides thereof.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said other side of said wall is provided with grooved recesses and said die element is conformably received in said recesses in full bearing contact therewith. 